הַר

From the study of Isaiah 2:2

Range of meaning

Har means a single mountain or a whole hill-country. Rosh means "head, top, chief, first." So berosh heharim can be read by place, "on the summit of the mountains," or by rank, "as head of the mountains." The preposition be- allows both readings. In ancient Near Eastern religion, mountains were where gods lived, met in council and ruled: Baal's Mount Zaphon, the Mesopotamian temple-towers called "mountain-houses," Sinai and Zion in Israel.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say "in/on the top of the mountains." Read literally in English, that can suggest one mountain stacked on others. BSB and NASB say "as the chief of the mountains," and NIV and ESV "as the highest of the mountains." These capture both height and rank.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 48:2 calls Zion "the heights of Zaphon," claiming for Zion the title of Baal's sacred mountain in Canaanite texts from Ugarit. Ezekiel 40:2 sees the temple on "a very high mountain"; Zechariah 14:10 pictures the land around Jerusalem flattened while Jerusalem stays high. Psalm 68:15–16 has the high mountains of Bashan look up with envy at the mountain God chose. (R. J. Clifford, The Cosmic Mountain; J. D. Levenson, Sinai and Zion.)

From the study of Isaiah 27:13

Range of meaning

Qodesh is the quality of being set apart and belonging to the divine sphere. "Mountain of holiness" means the mountain that belongs to God and is charged with his presence: Zion, the temple mount (Isa 11:9; 56:7; 65:25; 66:20; Ps 2:6).

Against the English

All major versions say "holy mountain/mount". That is accurate, though "holy" in modern English can sound mainly moral (pure, good) rather than "belonging to God's sacred space".

Used elsewhere in the period

In ancient Near Eastern thought the gods were enthroned on cosmic mountains (Baal on Zaphon in the Ugaritic texts). Israel's psalms take over that picture for Zion (Ps 48:1–2). Isaiah 2:2–3 and 66:20 picture the peoples, or the scattered Israelites, streaming to this mountain.

From the study of Isaiah 56:7

Range of meaning

Qodesh means holiness, sacredness: whatever belongs to God's own sphere and is withdrawn from ordinary use. In the Bible, holiness is closer to belonging and power than to a feeling of goodness. Holy space was graded and guarded, and access narrowed the closer one came. 'Mountain of my holiness' is a standard way of saying 'my holy mountain' and means Zion, the temple mount.

Against the English

'My holy mountain' is accurate in every version. What English loses is the sense of restricted ground: the place outsiders were expected to keep away from.

Used elsewhere in the period

The phrase recurs across Isaiah (11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:11, 25; 66:20). Ezekiel 44:7–9 condemns bringing 'foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh' into the sanctuary. Isaiah 66:20 pictures the nations bringing Israel's exiles 'as an offering to my holy mountain, Jerusalem'.